couple questions here.

I started building a big stick about 6 years ago, I had the fuselage and tail built when as they say "life happens" and I had to put things on hold.

I used both epoxy and CA, looking at the fuelage the epoxy seems to still be strong it doesn't appear to have started to cystalize as some epoxy sometimes can with age.


Considering the time factor that this has just been sitting around, will I be ok?


Also I have 2, still in the box, kits that are about 6 years old as well, will this age factor affect anything I should be concerned about? I guess this would also apply to my big stick as well.


thanks for any info

It shouldn't be a problem. A plane I built 20 years ago is still flying and no problem with the glue joints, just check them real good.
Now as far as the kits go, same thing as I have some from the early 60's and the wood is just as good now as it was back then. If they were kept in a controlled atmosphere they will stay good, now go and build and have a good time and don't worry.

Ditto what Art said, Paul. If the kits have been stored in the house, you're good to go.

I've got a Bridi Super Kaos 60 under the bed that was packed in 1975. The box is falling apart, and the plans are brittle, but the wood is still good.

I'm waiting until I retire before starting it, so I can devote the time to it that it deserves.

Steve

Another ditto, I have several planes that are 10+ years old and still flying fine. CA and Epoxy holding up very well.

Thanks everyone, judging by how good the glue joints still look I can agree.

Also the wood still looks great in my kits. So I suspected that all was ok.

They were all in my workshop which is kept dry.


And as grnbrt said, time to go have some fun.

I agree with Art & Steve. Beware of the kits stored in the ATTIC, Storage shed or work shop heated with a wood stove. The wood is usually extremely dry and brittle.

good luck,
Bill

You will like the stik. I build them with no dihedral and they are a blast. My friend insists on putting in dihedral and it makes it too stable. Won't roll as well or fly upsidedown as well. Just a suggestion. I too have 40 year old kits that are in great shape. You won't have a problem.

One thing about old wood, though. If it's dried out too much, some CA glues may have trouble curing. A bottle of kicker will see a lot of use, since it's the trace moisture that kicks off the glue. CA glue will take longer to cure with really dry wood.

If the wood's too dry, the thinner sheets will tend to split easier. The tensile strength shouldn't be compromised, though.

bax

One other thing I do when I store one I want pristine is to wrap it in a clear .05 mil thick (I think) sheet of plastic. I get them from a blue print shop on a roll. Wrap it like a christmas present, use 2 inch clear tape and you can see what is in it but nothing will get in. Keeps them nice. I have about 7 Goldberg Shoestrings wrapped like that plus a few others.

<<...the trace moisture that kicks off the glue (CA)...>>

You learn something new every day here.

Good thing I've begun using aliphatic almost exclusively on kits, eh?

Steve